A proposal to increase the state's gasoline tax rather than almost doubling tolls at the eastern part of the state Turnpike is drawing mixed reviews from Western Massachusetts drivers and legislators.

"I think the gas tax is high enough as it is," said Adam D. Lewko of Holyoke as he pumped fuel at the Shell Station on the corner of Center and West streets in Chicopee on Thursday. "We've been paying for the eastern part of the state. We shouldn't have to subsidize Boston."

This week, House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, D-Boston, proposed that the Legislature consider increasing the gasoline tax instead of raising tolls east of Route 128.

This was his response to a vote taken on Nov. 14 by the state Turnpike Authority which recommended increasing tolls inside Route 128 from $2.50 to $4 and doubling tolls for cars in the Sumner and Ted Williams Tunnels from $3.50 to $7.

Public hearings on the toll increases will be scheduled, with a final vote by the authority expected next month. The toll increases would raise up to $100 million a year and be used to help pay for the $2.2 billion worth of debt incurred in the Big Dig project.

Adam D. Lewko

To add to the debate, state Rep. David P. Linsky, D-Natick, is planning to file a bill to eliminate all turnpike tolls in exchange for a 6-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax increase. The state's gasoline tax has remained at 23.5 cents since 1991.

Thirty-six House members have signed on to Linsky's bill. All of them live in the eastern or central part of the state.

"I'm not prepared to say I'd support an increase in the gas tax, but it should be part of a discussion we should have," said state Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee, co-chairman of the Transportation Committee. "I don't think the gas tax alone is the way to solve the transportation funding problems."

He said he believes people from Western Massachusetts would be more accepting of a gasoline tax increase if they were assured that a portion of the money raised would come back to Western Massachusetts to improve bridges and roadways.

"I'm not surprised it's filed by a bunch of people from the Boston area who use the pike all the time," he said. "I never think it's a good time to raise taxes, but in a recession this is the worst possible time."

State Rep. Todd M. Smola, R-Palmer, echoed Humason's sentiments.

"It's an interesting conceptual idea, but it won't be getting my support," he said. "Where's the fairness and equity to Central and Western Massachusetts? I don't like the idea at all."

The proposal irks Mary Lou Bonfitto of Westfield, who was also filling her gasoline tank in Chicopee.

William H. Dempsey

"I'm annoyed," she said. "The quick fix is always adding on to the taxes. We don't get as many services as Eastern Massachusetts."

William H. Dempsey of the Feeding Hills section of Agawam said he does not have a problem with increasing the gasoline tax.

"They've got to," he said after making a transaction at the Shell Station. "Where do you think the road improvements will come from? That's what pays for your roads."

Others, like Adam A. Stearns of Chicopee and state Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst, talked about a combination of toll and gasoline tax increases as a possible solution.

"As long as the gas prices keep going down, it would be okay," Stearns said of raising the gasoline tax. "I say raise the tolls, anyway. I never take the pike. I think the whole pike should be tolls."

Adam A. Stearns

Story said she does not mind the idea of raising tolls in the eastern part of the state, but also sees the wisdom in discussing the gasoline tax increase idea.

"We haven't raised the gas tax in a long time," she said. "Maybe we could end up with a combination with some toll increases on the eastern part of the state and some increase in the gas tax."

However, Story added, "this will be very hard for people to agree on."

On the same day that the Turnpike Authority voted to recommend a spike in tolls, the citizens group, Stop the Pike Hike, was formed to fight it.

"We're not opposing any other solution," said Spencer H. Kimball of Longmeadow, the spokesman and director of operations for the statewide group. "Perhaps the gas tax is the better solution."